As you can see, the Broncos (http://www.nfl.com/teams/denverbroncos/profile?team=DEN) bested everyone but the Saints (http://www.nfl.com/teams/neworleanssaints/profile?team=NO) of a few seasons ago. There is, however, a key difference between those two teams: New Orleans played 11 games indoors in 2011, whereas Denver played just one inside in 2013. Playing indoors certainly favors the offense -- and scoring altogether -- as quarterbacks don't have to deal with wet footballs and kickers have no slippery tracks.
By the way, note that the 1950 and '51 Rams (http://www.nfl.com/teams/st.louisrams/profile?team=STL) are on this list despite playing in a defensively dominant era -- which makes them elite competition for the 2013 Broncos (http://www.nfl.com/teams/denverbroncos/profile?team=DEN), as is further illustrated by the following category:

What those Rams (http://www.nfl.com/teams/st.louisrams/profile?team=STL) teams accomplished was no fluke. They had not one but two Hall of Fame (http://www.profootballhof.com/) quarterbacks in Bob Waterfield and Norm Van Brocklin, two Hall of Fame (http://www.profootballhof.com/) receivers in Tom Fears and Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch, and a running back in Glenn Davis who, in 1950, gained an average of nearly 8 yards per touch and compiled 1,000 yards from scrimmage in just 12 games. He also threw two touchdown passes.
In the 63 years since the Rams (http://www.nfl.com/teams/st.louisrams/profile?team=STL) set the points-per-game record, the 2013 Broncos (http://www.nfl.com/teams/denverbroncos/profile?team=DEN) have been one of the few teams to come close to matching their impressive ability to fill up an NFL scoreboard. Of course, Denver surely would like to avoid following the same trajectory as that Los Angeles club, which lost the 1950 NFL Championship Game on a last-minute field goal.
But scoring isn't the end all, be all ...

Only one other team in history kept the chains moving more efficiently than Peyton Manning (http://www.nfl.com/player/peytonmanning/2501863/profile) and Co. did this season. While not as sexy as gobbling up fantasy points, racking up first downs often equates to getting into a rhythm, giving your own defense a blow and shutting up crowds on the road -- and all of that usually translates to victories. While the Patriots (http://www.nfl.com/teams/newenglandpatriots/profile?team=NE) of last season bested the Broncos (http://www.nfl.com/teams/denverbroncos/profile?team=DEN) of this season, New England wasn't nearly as effective at scoring touchdowns in the red zone as Denver, which posted an astounding 76.1 percent success rate -- a stat that has a lot to do with our next category:

The presence of Brady behind Manning explains why the Patriots (http://www.nfl.com/teams/newenglandpatriots/profile?team=NE) -- including the undefeated group from 2007 -- make several appearances on the lists in this piece. But there's something that truly distinguishes Manning from Brady and all the other stellar quarterbacks of this year and yesteryear: how well Manning played as he got deeper in the opponent's territory. Manning tossed 45 touchdown passes and zero picks inside his opponents' 30-yard line, compiling a passer rating of 123.0 -- the highest figure since 1991, when that stat was first kept.
Think about that: The closer Manning and the offense got to the other team's goal line, the better they got. That's the hallmark of an effective offensive unit.
As for a shining beacon of an effective offensive unit ...

Denver became the first team in 44 years to post 50-plus points on three separate occasions, doing it against the Eagles, (http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2013092909/2013/REG4/eagles@broncos) Cowboys (http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2013100609/2013/REG5/broncos@cowboys) and Titans (http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2013120809/2013/REG14/titans@broncos) -- and that, as much as anything, could underline this offense's case for the title of greatest ever. Posting a 50-burger thrice in one campaign is like taking an already solid U2 album (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Joshua_Tree) and highlighting it with "Where the Streets Have No Name," (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzZWSrr5wFI) "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vMUvCYTtmM) and "With or Without You" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmSdTa9kaiQ) (of course, that actually happened (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Joshua_Tree)).

If we're looking at a clash of the historic offensive titans, we must note that no other modern team has pulled off such frequent outbursts. Consider it a milestone of unstoppability in an era when defensive adjustments and situational substitutions are supposed to limit such occurrences. And how about the fact that Denver -- which also dropped 49 on Baltimore (http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2013090500/2013/REG1/ravens@broncos) -- tapped the brakes in several blowouts this year?
No matter what, no offense can be considered transcendent if it doesn't finish first in the major categories -- and the Broncos (http://www.nfl.com/teams/denverbroncos/profile?team=DEN) clearly accomplished that in 2013 ...

» Stats in Which the Broncos Led the NFL This Season
Points per game: 37.9
Yards per game: 457.3
Plays of 10-plus yards: 275
Passing yards per game: 340.3
Times sacked: 20
First downs per game: 27.2
Red-zone TD percentage: 76.1

<TABLE width=205 align=right> <TBODY> <TR> <TD>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Perhaps the most impressive number is the 20 sacks allowed -- as Manning and backup quarterback Brock Osweiler (http://www.nfl.com/player/brockosweiler/2533436/profile) combined to drop back more than 700 times. Sure, much of that reflects the decision-making ability and quick release of Manning, but that's also some serious offensive-line play, babe.

Whether looking at the production of that unit, that quarterback or the five Broncos (http://www.nfl.com/teams/denverbroncos/profile?team=DEN) -- Demaryius Thomas (http://www.nfl.com/player/demaryiusthomas/497328/profile), Eric Decker (http://www.nfl.com/player/ericdecker/497284/profile), Julius Thomas (http://www.nfl.com/player/juliusthomas/2495353/profile), Wes Welker (http://www.nfl.com/player/weswelker/2505790/profile) and Knowshon Moreno (http://www.nfl.com/player/knowshonmoreno/79619/profile) -- who scored 10 or more touchdowns this season (no team in NFL history has ever had more than three players do that), it becomes quite difficult to not think of this group as the best offense in recent memory. Denver outscored every team in modern history and outgained all but one, all while playing mostly outdoors in an AFC West that featured not one but three playoff teams.

As far as Denver being the greatest of all time, though, the thought here would be notsofast. While many are quick to pooh-pooh the vintage teams of the past -- whether it's because they competed when there were just 12 teams in the league, because the athletes playing then weren't as impressive as those playing now, or because people irreverently equate black-and-white footage to irrelevant lineage -- those early Rams (http://www.nfl.com/teams/st.louisrams/profile?team=STL) offenses sure are tough to ignore. Considering all the rules currently in place that are geared to favor the offense -- receivers could practically be pelted by a battle-axe in 1950 -- the fact that Van Brocklin and Waterfield led a squad that posted 38.8 points per game is unreal. One wonders how much those guys called "Omaha" at the line (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000313849/article/peyton-manning-explains-omaha-meaning-kind-of) or pushed pizza on the side (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000085486/article/peyton-manning-a-new-owner-of-21-papa-johns-pizza-stores).
What we can stop wondering about is which offense is the premier attack of the Super Bowl (http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/48) era -- because the numbers surely speak for themselves.

No doubt, 2013 Denver Broncos were the most efficient offense in NFL history and arguably the best ever.

TripleTilde

01-28-2014, 07:24 AM

It would have been even more productive if they would have played the starters for the entire Raiders game. The 2007 Patriots would have done so.

spdirty

01-28-2014, 07:48 AM

If we can just not turn the ball over the next game, we got this.

TripleTilde

01-28-2014, 07:56 AM

If we can just not turn the ball over the next game, we got this.

X2

Bronco Yoda

01-28-2014, 07:59 AM

I know I'm going to get **** for this but..... I wouldn't say greatest. Most prolific yes. Greatest no.

We have holes. We're playing without our two best O-linemen and a new center. We do not have a STAR running back.

Jason in LA

01-28-2014, 08:13 AM

My cousin Woodley Lewis played for the Rams in from '50-'55. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 1950. He was a defensive back, wide receiver, and kick/punt returner. If I'm remembering right, he set the NFL record for most interceptions by a rookie, and he returned a number of kicks/punts back for touchdowns. He was also the first black player to play in the Cotton Bowl when he played for Oregon.

OldschoolFreak

01-28-2014, 09:31 AM

To me these raw stats don't tell the story. The thing I really find impressive is when you start to look at standard deviations over the mean (see this, one of several articles that has addressed this: http://grantland.com/features/a-tale-of-two-cities/). Looking how their offensive juggernauterie compares to the rest of the league's scoring and general offensive prowess is key and when you do that, these Broncs do look pretty good.

orange skier

01-28-2014, 09:43 AM

Hey Seattle Trolls: you might want to read the first post.........

ColoradoDarin

01-28-2014, 09:43 AM

I don't know if they are THE greatest ever (too tough to compare different eras), but they're in the discussion for the top slot.

SonOfLe-loLang

01-28-2014, 09:47 AM

I know I'm going to get **** for this but..... I wouldn't say greatest. Most prolific yes. Greatest no.

We have holes. We're playing without our two best O-linemen and a new center. We do not have a STAR running back.

We are playing without our two best OL? Who is the other?

And I'd contend we don't have "holes"

Jekyll15Hyde

01-28-2014, 09:51 AM

In before the requisite
http://www.quickmeme.com/img/5c/5cee956955bfa19120c1fc6d2d3580b47129be9a64dfcea801 5192b08284c3da.jpg

Samiwindr

01-28-2014, 09:58 AM

Statistically, this years Broncos are the best ever. Conceptually, I think of a dominant offense as one that basically dictates the game from start to finish. The 07 Pats, The greatest Show on Turf, the 98 Broncos and Vikings, the 91 Redskins, and the 89 Niners. All of those teams could walk on the field knowing they would put up 7 as soon as they touched the ball.

This years Bronco's build momentum over the game and usually need a drive or two to "warm up" for some reason. When we do start rolling we can't be stopped, but the slow starts have been driving me crazy. On the other hand it must drive the other fans crazy that we give them a glimmer of hope in the first quarter, only to snuff it out for good in the 3rd...

hambone13

01-28-2014, 10:05 AM

Statistically, this years Broncos are the best ever. Conceptually, I think of a dominant offense as one that basically dictates the game from start to finish. The 07 Pats, The greatest Show on Turf, the 98 Broncos and Vikings, the 91 Redskins, and the 89 Niners. All of those teams could walk on the field knowing they would put up 7 as soon as they touched the ball.

This years Bronco's build momentum over the game and usually need a drive or two to "warm up" for some reason. When we do start rolling we can't be stopped, but the slow starts have been driving me crazy. On the other hand it must drive the other fans crazy that we give them a glimmer of hope in the first quarter, only to snuff it out for good in the 3rd...

There is some validity to your point but we improved the slow starts significantly towards the end of the season. Also, I think there is a strong component of PFM's personality that by nature is more conservative on his decisions until he figures out the defense.

CEH

01-28-2014, 10:16 AM

The game is hyped as the #1 Defense vs teh #1 offense but wha tit is the #1 for 2013 vs the #1 offense of all time.

I know Seattle has played a team with a great TE and they have played a team with a great WR but have they played a team with a great slot WR.

Welker blew them up last time and I think he may be in the game plan alot this week.

DT will get his throws against Dick Sherman but who is covering Welker in the slot?

bronco militia

01-28-2014, 10:20 AM

who's got Knowshon?

Kaylore

01-28-2014, 10:27 AM

You have to wonder if the 1950 Rams were allowed to play a 16 game season what kind of damage they would have done. This is before the West Coast offense by about 25 years. Shoot, Bill Walsh was a bench warmer at San Mateo during this time, so the league was ground and pound. For the Rams to do what they did, WHEN they did, that's pretty impressive.

TripleTilde

01-28-2014, 10:40 AM

I don't know if they are THE greatest ever (too tough to compare different eras), but they're in the discussion for the top slot.

If it's tough to compare eras, wouldn't that make discussing it moot?

TripleTilde

01-28-2014, 10:43 AM

You have to wonder if the 1950 Rams were allowed to play a 16 game season what kind of damage they would have done. This is before the West Coast offense by about 25 years. Shoot, Bill Walsh was a bench warmer at San Mateo during this time, so the league was ground and pound. For the Rams to do what they did, WHEN they did, that's pretty impressive.

I don't know if you read that grantland article using standard deviations to compare eras but what I find hard to believe is that this Broncos offense was a bigger outlier. I would have expected that to be those Rams teams because of what you're mentioning.

Powderaddict

01-28-2014, 10:44 AM

They are the best in the modern era. That's good enough for me.

What's crazy is how furiously they can rack up points. The games can look close for a bit, then all hell breaks loose. Losing slightly at halftime becomes a blowout of Biblical proportions by the end of the 3rd quarter.

They can be streaky at times, but when they get rolling it is ridiculous. And unstoppable. I honestly believe right now, the only team that can beat the Broncos is the Broncos. The Seahawks only chance is that PFM and Company have an off day.

Bronco Yoda

01-28-2014, 11:26 AM

We still need to build a stronger power running. If ball can hang onto the rock then we may have something. Crazy to think that with Clady and possibly a healthy Kupe back next year along with a seasoned Montee BAll we could be that much better!

CEH

01-28-2014, 12:14 PM

We still need to build a stronger power running. If ball can hang onto the rock then we may have something. Crazy to think that with Clady and possibly a healthy Kupe back next year along with a seasoned Montee BAll we could be that much better!

I really like how hard Ball runs down inside the 20. He is really coming on late after he figured out everyone in the NFL tries to strip the ball